Central PA Health & Fitness Expo to Debut with Celebrity Appearances

STATE COLLEGE – The Central Pennsylvania Health & Fitness Expo will debut with a splash this October at the Bryce Jordan Center with celebrity appearances by Tony Horton, the creator of P90X and the most famous face in fitness; Phil Davis, Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor; and Jen Selter, a fitness model with more than 8 million social media followers.

The expo will be held Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is presented by the Central Pennsylvania Newspaper Network and sponsored by State College Motors, Giant Food Stores and East Coast Health & Fitness.

Organizers hope the expo will encourage and educate residents of our region to adopt or maintain a healthier lifestyle by offering access to a wide range of health- and fitness-related exhibitors, presentations, children’s activities and celebrities.

Foremost among those celebrities is Horton, who will bring his motivational message to the event on Oct. 4, with a keynote address and public autograph session, as well as a private reception and workout for VIP ticketholders. For the past 25 years, Horton has used his unique brand of humor to change the lives of more than 8 million people through his incredible fusion of motivation, physical exercise, nutrition, and discipline.

“When we started planning this show, we drew up a wish list of celebrities who would really allow us to grab some headlines in our inaugural year and Tony Horton was atop that list,” said Ray Eckenrode of the Altoona Mirror, one of the show’s organizers. “To be able to secure him for a Central Pa. appearance is something we’re really proud of.”

On Sunday, another familiar face will be featured at the expo in the form of Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis, a former national champion wrestler at Penn State and currently a top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor. Davis will meet and greet expo attendees Sunday afternoon and will also attend a private reception and question-and-answer instruction session with VIP ticketholders.

Davis was a four-year All American at Penn State, capping his career by winning NCAA gold at 197 pounds in 2008. He began his UFC career the next year and has a career record of 12-2 and is currently the sixth-ranked light heavyweight. He is scheduled to co-headline UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 25 against Glover Teixeira.

Sunday also will feature an appearance by Jen Selter, a model who’s used social media to burst onto the fitness scene in 2014. Selter has more than 4 million Instagram followers, 2.5 million Facebook likes and 600,000 Twitter followers. She will meet and greet expo attendees Sunday afternoon and will also attend a private reception with VIP ticketholders.

VIP tickets for all three celebrity appearances can be purchased via Ticketmaster, at the Bryce Jordan Center box office or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. General admission tickets go on sale Aug. 25 at BJC ticket locations in State College and the offices of the four presenting newspapers.

General admission tickets will also be available at the door for both days of the event. Saturday GA tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students while Sunday GA tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. A weekend general admission pass is available for $20 for adults and $12 for students.